Samsung is turning the page to a thinner, lighter chapter. The seventh generation of its book-style Galaxy Z Fold, which debuts at its Unpacked event on Wednesday, could redefine foldable phone design. Put aside your notions of a bulky gadget and get ready for a phone that Samsung says will feel closer to what you might already have in your pocket.
"More than ever, these devices will very much resemble that traditional form factor," Drew Blackard, Samsung's senior vice president of mobile product management, told CNET in an exclusive interview. "It'll feel like a traditional bar-type smartphone, but it'll have all of the benefits of a foldable."
Samsung has consistently been dropping hints about its upcoming phones, which are expected to include the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 and the more budget-friendly Z Flip 7 FE (although Samsung has yet to confirm that last option). Much of its focus has seemingly been on the Fold. It first teased bringing "an Ultra-experience" to "a smaller and more portable form factor," pointing to a more advanced camera and plenty of AI. It then noted that its "newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet."
Samsung's teaser for its new foldables. Samsung
Long road to a thinner Fold
To give you an idea of what's in store: Between the first generation of the Galaxy Z Fold, which debuted in 2019, and last year's Z Fold 6, the phone became about 29% thinner and around 37 grams lighter, according to Samsung. Now, we can expect a similar leap between the Z Fold 6 and the Z Fold 7, Blackard says -- over just one generation.
Based on those numbers, it's possible the Z Fold 7 could be about 0.34 inches thick when closed, give or take, and weigh just over 200 grams. We'll have to wait and see what exactly Samsung has in store, but that could make the Z Fold 7 even thinner and lighter than the Oppo Find N5, and about the same weight as the iPhone 16 Pro.
One new Samsung phone already set the stage for this moment: the Galaxy S25 Edge, which debuted in May. That unveiling, along with general hype around thin phones, left a lot of people scratching their heads. What's the point of a thinner phone, especially when you're putting a case on it anyway? Now, as Samsung gears up to launch a foldable designed to feel as "normal" as possible, the pieces are starting to fall into place.
Watch this: Galaxy S25 Edge Review: This Skinny Phone Left a Big Impression 06:24
The S25 Edge proved that a thin phone doesn't have to compromise camera quality. That skinny phone boasts the same 200-megapixel main camera you'll find on the not-so-thin S25 Ultra. Improved cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could help foldables break away from the hardware and design limitations that have held their cameras back for so long. That could allow the Z Fold 7 to stand apart from other skinny foldables like the Oppo Find N5.
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